Geranium plant named ‘Oglger11154’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Oglger11154’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely and early flowering habit; bright scarlet red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘OGLGER11154’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum,and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Oglger11154’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Lompoc, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Zonal Geranium cultivars with zoned dark green-colored foliage and attractive flower coloration.

The new Zonal Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in June, 2000 in Lompoc, Calif. of Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Patriot Red’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,516, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 8217, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Lompoc, Calif. in March, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Connellsville, Pa. since January, 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Oglger11154’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Oglger11154’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   4. Bright scarlet red-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ from plants of the female parent, ‘Patriot Red’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium are more freely flowering         than plants of ‘Patriot Red’.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have longer peduncles than         plants of ‘Patriot Red’.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have cherry red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Fisfire’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,489. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Connellsville, Pa., plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed from plants of ‘Fisfire’ primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Fisfire’ had lighter scarlet-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the new Zonal Geranium flowered earlier than plants of ‘Fisfire’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Oglger11154’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Connellsville, Pa. in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions which closely approximate Zonal Geranium commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 21° C. to 32° C., night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 2,500 to 3,000 foot-candles. Plants had been growing for nine weeks when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Oglger11154’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Patriot Red’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,516.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code number 8217, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures of 16° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 16° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Upright and outwardly spreading plant             habit; uniformly mounded; densely foliated.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth             habit. Freely branching habit.         -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 21.7 cm to 26.2             cm.         -   Plant height, to top of umbels.—About 27.6 cm to 29.8 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 32.5 cm.         -   Main stems.—Length: About 2.4 cm to 3.6 cm. Diameter: About             7 mm to 9 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm to 3.2 cm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Strong. Color: Close to             144A.         -   Primary lateral branches.—Length: About 9.5 cm to 19.8 cm.             Diameter: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Internode length: About 2.1 cm             to 3.9 cm. Texture: Slightly pubescent. Strength: Strong.             Color: Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.3 cm to 8.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.2 cm to 7.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Pedately-lobed; crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Slightly pubescent;             leathery.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 146C. Fully             expanded foliage, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147B;             venation, close to 147B. Zonation pattern: Distinct.             Diameter: About 3 cm. Color: Close to 200D.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 cm to 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm             to 1.5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Rotate flowers arranged in rounded             hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils. Umbels             displayed above the foliage on strong peduncles. Flowers             face upright to outward; flowers slightly cupped becoming             flatter with development. Flowers not persistent. Flowers             not fragrant.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about five to             eight flowers per umbel and about one to eight umbels per             lateral branch.         -   Flowering season.—In Connellsville, Pa., flowering is             continuous during the spring and summer.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about 10 to 14             days on the plant.         -   Umbel height.—About 2.9 cm to 3.5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 6.7 cm to 8.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.3 cm to 4.6 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 9 mm to 14 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.6 cm to 3.4 cm. Diameter: About             4 mm to 8 mm. Shape: Elliptical.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About ten to twelve. Length:             About 2.6 cm to 2.8 cm. Width: About 1.3 cm to 1.5 cm.             Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to N30A. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 42C.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: None to about two. Length:             About 6 mm to 9 mm. Width: About 3 mm to 6 mm. Shape:             Elongated, slender. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to N30A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 42C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 11.6 cm to 15.1 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm to 3.5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 146C.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 1.8 cm to             2.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About six to eight. Filament length: About 5 mm to 9 mm.             Filament color: Close to N155B. Anther length: About 1.5 mm             to 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to 156D.             Pollen amount: Moderate to abundant. Pollen color: Close to             171B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 9 mm Stigma shape: Split into six parts.             Stigma size: About 2.5 mm. Stigma color: Close to 169C.             Style length: About 2.5 mm. Style color: Close to 157A.             Ovary color: Slightly darker than 157A.         -   Seed.—Seed development has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geraniums. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed to tolerate wind, and temperatures ranging from about 1° C.     to about 35° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance. 

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Oglger11154’ as illustrated and described. 